Clay County Historical Society and Museum
Source: https://claycountyhistoricalsocietymuseum.org
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:33
Clay County Historical Society and Museum
Skip to content
Device Specific “
Screen Readers
” allow Sight-Challenged Individuals Access to our Website
See The Most Current Museum Programs, Information and Activities Calendar
to See Events Calendar Click ==v
We are here Online “
Virtually
Open
” 24 : 7 : 365
Our “
Virtual Museum Tour
” lets you Tour, Pause and Inspect More and More items
Our Museum’s Curator,
MacKenzie Mallon
, is creating a Comprehensive Assortment of our Treasures that is
Our Ever-Growing as this new tool (
Catalogit
) is implemented. Follow this Link as MORE and MORE ITEMS and Full Room Displays that are being added
You can Also Follow us on
Facebook
and
Instagram
Our Normal
Operating Hours are
:
M-F
1:00-4:00
pm and Sat
10:00am-4:00
pm
Highlight and Copy/Select our email address =>
ClayCountyMuseum@Gmail.com
into
your email Provider
‘s Compose To: and drop us a line
There is
Never an Admission FEE
to visit our
Clay County Historical Society Museum
From Top to Bottom, our Museum has Treasures on each of its
3 floors
, just waiting for you to explore. We are located at –
14 North Main Street
– Look for our building, right in the middle of the (West block) on the
Historic Downtown Liberty Square
. Start on the top floor with the parlor and doctor’s office, then tour the first (main) floor both front and back, leaving the lower level for the grand finale! The lower level has
Janie the Scarecrow
and
Bullseye the Sawhorse
welcoming you to discover Clay County’s historic, rustic past. Also on display is a tribute to Youth Programs including
Boy Scouts
,
Girl Scouts
and
Campfire
.
Early settlers came with family, livestock and dreams. Clay County was timber land needing to be cleared, fields waiting to be uncovered and planted and history to be written. The cottage industries demonstrate the various ways families were able to bring civilization to an untamed frontier.
Browse all 3 floors and ask the docents
questions
Enjoy our
Past
in the
Present
and Come again in the
Future
!
How the
Clay County Missouri Historical Society
came into being
The
Cla
y County Missouri Historical Society
was formed in
1934
by community leaders interested in the preservation of local history. The present-day
Clay County Historical Society
& Museum
sprang from this organization in
1963
. These individuals had been activists in saving the old courthouse that was razed to be replaced by the current large block courthouse. That effort failed but they formed the society and worked in the interest of history.
Below is a transcription of their 2nd meeting which took place shortly before Christmas, 1934.
“Minutes – Dec 14, 1934. The Clay County Missouri Historical Society met at Hessel-Myers Chapel in Liberty on the evening of Dec 14, 1934, with about twenty in attendance.
The President called the meeting to order and in the absence of the Secretary, Mrs. Earl Sevier, appointed Samuel Laffoon to serve in that capacity. Since the minutes of the first meeting were not at hand, the president reviewed the incidents of the organization meeting, which was held in the circuit court room of the historic old courthouse on the afternoon of Sep 3, 1934 – this being the last public gathering in the courthouse before its destruction was begun on Sep 17.
While the historical society was being organized in one part of the courthouse, the building was sold in another part to a wrecking company for the sum of $330.
Report of Resolutions Committee was given by Mrs. Mary B. PerLee, a member, in the absence of Mrs. Pearl Wornall, chairman. The gist of this was that the County Court declined to reserve any of the structural parts of the old courthouse as historic relics, or to provide for an historical museum room in the new courthouse. Mrs. Burton Maltby, chairman of the Committee on Constitutions and By-Laws, reported. Mrs. PerLee read for Mrs. Maltby. The Constitution and By Laws submitted by the committees were considered in detail and, after a few minor changes proposed by motion and accepted, these were adopted as read and amended.
The historian, Mrs. Chas. A. McCoun opened a discussion on the type of scrapbook most desirable for her work. It was left to her to make the selection. A motion that the president purchase the books necessary for the preservation of the Society’s records was made by Edgar Laffoon and seconded. The motion carried. Open discussion of future plans with several worthwhile projects receiving attention occupied the remainder of the evening. Motion for adjournment was made and seconded. Motion carried.
Ethel Masie Withers, President; Samuel Laffoon, Secretary Pro. Tem.”
The following year, the new Clay County Historical Society sets its sights on saving Watkins Mill for posterity. In this effort, they, with others, were successful. Their overall mission was to seek out and preserve historical sites while educating the community on local history. The board of directors was made up of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Historian and Treasurer for the executive committee plus a director from each of the six townships in Clay County: Fishing River, Liberty, Gallatin, Kearney, Platte and Washington. At the outset they had seventy odd members and each paid yearly dues of 50¢.
They put action to their mission with programs featuring various Senators, including a newly elected Harry S. Truman as well as other notable Missourians. They sponsored essay contests for elementary and high school students, with the original prize in 1937 being $4.00. By 1941, the society had begun a tour of homes that was continued for several decades.
This organization and these first members are the reason the Museum exists today. They were just concerned people, interested in preserving the history of Clay County and its people. At its beginning, the Clay County Historical Society boasted seventy members; today we have less than fifty. The Clay County Museum needs volunteers to continue its mission to preserve, protect and present history. Be a part of a great organization and help preserve history for the future – for your children, grandchildren and beyond.
Search
Additional Information
Showcasing our Amazing Artifacts
Paranormal Activity?
Museum Second Floor Video – November 2024
The Battle of Randolph
Bob Barker “The Price is Right” was 99-years YOUNG
Heritage Middle School Visit – Nov 22, 2022
DAR Meeting Discusses “Old Area Homes”
Grandmother, grandson find united cause at museum
Our Clay County Museum Building’s Past
A Woman of The Civil War – Lou Alder McCoy
Civil War Soldiers – 1
3rd Regiment, Iowa Volunteers – Battle of Liberty/Blue Mills
The Mounted Rangers of Liberty – 1861
The Battle of Liberty / Blue Mills Landing – September 17, 1861
Suffrage – the 19th Amendment
Phoebe Ess – Before She Could Vote
The Jay Jackson Legacy
The Withers Legacy
Inky Dot’s Last Trip
Old Clay County Revisited
1922 Liberty Christian Church History
Festivals – by any Name
The County Home – “Robertson Station”
Gallatin Township Land Grants, Now Staley Farms
Christmas Presents Under the Tree
Just Fiddlin’ Around
The Early Clay Countians
Homemade Chili – 10¢
Clay County Courthouses In Flux
Freedom Fountain
The Dred Scott Decision
Dinah Aryers Trigg Allen, Pioneer
Skip to content
Device Specific “
Screen Readers
” allow Sight-Challenged Individuals Access to our Website
See The Most Current Museum Programs, Information and Activities Calendar
to See Events Calendar Click ==v
We are here Online “
Virtually
Open
” 24 : 7 : 365
Our “
Virtual Museum Tour
” lets you Tour, Pause and Inspect More and More items
Our Museum’s Curator,
MacKenzie Mallon
, is creating a Comprehensive Assortment of our Treasures that is
Our Ever-Growing as this new tool (
Catalogit
) is implemented. Follow this Link as MORE and MORE ITEMS and Full Room Displays that are being added
You can Also Follow us on
and
Our Normal
Operating Hours are
:
M-F
1:00-4:00
pm and Sat
10:00am-4:00
pm
Highlight and Copy/Select our email address =>
ClayCountyMuseum@Gmail.com
into
your email Provider
‘s Compose To: and drop us a line
There is
Never an Admission FEE
to visit our
Clay County Historical Society Museum
From Top to Bottom, our Museum has Treasures on each of its
3 floors
, just waiting for you to explore. We are located at –
14 North Main Street
– Look for our building, right in the middle of the (West block) on the
Historic Downtown Liberty Square
. Start on the top floor with the parlor and doctor’s office, then tour the first (main) floor both front and back, leaving the lower level for the grand finale! The lower level has
Janie the Scarecrow
and
Bullseye the Sawhorse
welcoming you to discover Clay County’s historic, rustic past. Also on display is a tribute to Youth Programs including
Boy Scouts
,
Girl Scouts
and
Campfire
.
Early settlers came with family, livestock and dreams. Clay County was timber land needing to be cleared, fields waiting to be uncovered and planted and history to be written. The cottage industries demonstrate the various ways families were able to bring civilization to an untamed frontier.
Browse all 3 floors and ask the docents
questions
Enjoy our
Past
in the
Present
and Come again in the
Future
!
How the
Clay County Missouri Historical Society
came into being
The
Cla
y County Missouri Historical Society
was formed in
1934
by community leaders interested in the preservation of local history. The present-day
Clay County Historical Society
& Museum
sprang from this organization in
1963
. These individuals had been activists in saving the old courthouse that was razed to be replaced by the current large block courthouse. That effort failed but they formed the society and worked in the interest of history.
Below is a transcription of their 2nd meeting which took place shortly before Christmas, 1934.
“Minutes – Dec 14, 1934. The Clay County Missouri Historical Society met at Hessel-Myers Chapel in Liberty on the evening of Dec 14, 1934, with about twenty in attendance.
The President called the meeting to order and in the absence of the Secretary, Mrs. Earl Sevier, appointed Samuel Laffoon to serve in that capacity. Since the minutes of the first meeting were not at hand, the president reviewed the incidents of the organization meeting, which was held in the circuit court room of the historic old courthouse on the afternoon of Sep 3, 1934 – this being the last public gathering in the courthouse before its destruction was begun on Sep 17.
While the historical society was being organized in one part of the courthouse, the building was sold in another part to a wrecking company for the sum of $330.
Report of Resolutions Committee was given by Mrs. Mary B. PerLee, a member, in the absence of Mrs. Pearl Wornall, chairman. The gist of this was that the County Court declined to reserve any of the structural parts of the old courthouse as historic relics, or to provide for an historical museum room in the new courthouse. Mrs. Burton Maltby, chairman of the Committee on Constitutions and By-Laws, reported. Mrs. PerLee read for Mrs. Maltby. The Constitution and By Laws submitted by the committees were considered in detail and, after a few minor changes proposed by motion and accepted, these were adopted as read and amended.
The historian, Mrs. Chas. A. McCoun opened a discussion on the type of scrapbook most desirable for her work. It was left to her to make the selection. A motion that the president purchase the books necessary for the preservation of the Society’s records was made by Edgar Laffoon and seconded. The motion carried. Open discussion of future plans with several worthwhile projects receiving attention occupied the remainder of the evening. Motion for adjournment was made and seconded. Motion carried.
Ethel Masie Withers, President; Samuel Laffoon, Secretary Pro. Tem.”
The following year, the new Clay County Historical Society sets its sights on saving Watkins Mill for posterity. In this effort, they, with others, were successful. Their overall mission was to seek out and preserve historical sites while educating the community on local history. The board of directors was made up of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Historian and Treasurer for the executive committee plus a director from each of the six townships in Clay County: Fishing River, Liberty, Gallatin, Kearney, Platte and Washington. At the outset they had seventy odd members and each paid yearly dues of 50¢.
They put action to their mission with programs featuring various Senators, including a newly elected Harry S. Truman as well as other notable Missourians. They sponsored essay contests for elementary and high school students, with the original prize in 1937 being $4.00. By 1941, the society had begun a tour of homes that was continued for several decades.
This organization and these first members are the reason the Museum exists today. They were just concerned people, interested in preserving the history of Clay County and its people. At its beginning, the Clay County Historical Society boasted seventy members; today we have less than fifty. The Clay County Museum needs volunteers to continue its mission to preserve, protect and present history. Be a part of a great organization and help preserve history for the future – for your children, grandchildren and beyond.
Search
Additional Information
Showcasing our Amazing Artifacts
Paranormal Activity?
Museum Second Floor Video – November 2024
The Battle of Randolph
Bob Barker “The Price is Right” was 99-years YOUNG
Heritage Middle School Visit – Nov 22, 2022
DAR Meeting Discusses “Old Area Homes”
Grandmother, grandson find united cause at museum
Our Clay County Museum Building’s Past
A Woman of The Civil War – Lou Alder McCoy
Civil War Soldiers – 1
3rd Regiment, Iowa Volunteers – Battle of Liberty/Blue Mills
The Mounted Rangers of Liberty – 1861
The Battle of Liberty / Blue Mills Landing – September 17, 1861
Suffrage – the 19th Amendment
Phoebe Ess – Before She Could Vote
The Jay Jackson Legacy
The Withers Legacy
Inky Dot’s Last Trip
Old Clay County Revisited
1922 Liberty Christian Church History
Festivals – by any Name
The County Home – “Robertson Station”
Gallatin Township Land Grants, Now Staley Farms
Christmas Presents Under the Tree
Just Fiddlin’ Around
The Early Clay Countians
Homemade Chili – 10¢
Clay County Courthouses In Flux
Freedom Fountain
The Dred Scott Decision
Dinah Aryers Trigg Allen, Pioneer